International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)

ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 3 Issue 8, August - 2014

Analysis and Design of Rectangular

Microstrip Patch Antenna AT 2.4Ghz
WLAN Applications
Ogunlade Michael Adegoke, Ismael Saad Eltoum
Department of Electronics Engineering
Tianjin University of Technology and Education
Tianjin, China

ABSRACT- In this paper, a rectangular microstrip patch simulated radiation patterns of the design frequency are well
antenna is designed. The proposed antenna operates at 2.4GHz
acceptable. The wireless local area network requires this band
resonant frequency for wireless local area network [WLAN].
There are different shapes of an antenna but our focus is on of frequency 2.4GHz (2400-2484MHz) which is based on
rectangular shape antenna design, and this antenna is designed in IEEE802.11b for WLAN applications. With reference to the
such a way to support the above resonant frequency. This choice simulation results, we can see that the multiband antenna
of frequency has made the antenna a perfect choice for use in the
wireless Local Area Network [WLAN]. In order to make the achieve good results once we make comparison with the IEEE
proposed antenna more accurate and efficient, High Frequency 802.11bfor the verification. The choice of chosen a relative
Structure Simulator software HFSS's optometric is used for the permeability of ∈𝑟 =4.4, gives better efficiency and larger
RT
optimization of the antenna design. The microstrip line model
bandwidths.
method is used and been simulated by using HFSS software. A
rectangular Patch design equations are introduced and validated
IJE

by well simulated results. This antenna is implemented on FR4 2. PROPOSED ANTENNA GEOMETRY
Epoxy dielectric substrate with relative permittivity of ∈𝒓 =4.4,
thickness h= 1.60mm and input impedance of 50 ohms. The
simple configuration and low profile attributes of the proposed Shown below in figure 1, is the geometry of the
antenna made it easy fabrication and suitable for the application rectangular microstrip patch antenna. This consists of
in the WLAN applications. rectangular patch with dimension 𝐿0 , 𝑊0 , 𝑊2 , 𝑊1 , 𝐿1 , 𝐿2 ,
respectively. The rectangular patch is separated from ground
Keywords: Frequency, Micro strip, Patch, VSWR,
plane with FR4 Epoxy dielectric substrate with relative
Return loss, WLAN.
permittivity of ∈𝑟 =4.4,and thickness of 1.6mm. The details
dimensions are given in the table below all of which are
1. INTRODUCTION
calculated using rectangular Patch design equations.
Because of micro strip patch antenna's many unique and
attractive properties, there seems to be little doubt that it will
continue to find many applications in the future. It's properties
includes, light weight ,low profile, easy fabrication, compact
and conformability to mounting structure.
In this design, we are concentrating on rectangular
microstrip patch antenna which consists of rectangular patch of
length [L0] and width [W0] of the patch. All these were
calculated by using rectangular patch design equations. All the
dimensions are in mm. The operating bands are evaluated by
using the software called HFSS with a return loss S11 of
-29.69dB and VSWR of 1.20 which is less than two. The

IJERTV3IS081043 www.ijert.org 1239

(This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.)
 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 3 Issue 8, August - 2014

permittivity of ∈𝑟 =4.4 and height of 1.60mm. The rectangular

patch covers the middle portion of the substrate and the patch is
fed by a microstrip line method with 50Ohms input impedance
respectively.
The effective dielectric constant ∈𝑒𝑓𝑓 , is given as:

1
∈𝑒𝑓𝑓 = ∈𝑟+1 ∈𝑟 −1
+ 12ℎ
, (2)
2 2 1+
𝑤

Hence, h is the height, W is the width, ∈𝑟 is the dielectric

constant of the substrate. Dielectric constant is a function of
frequency. As the operation frequency increases, the effective
Figure1:Antenna Geometry dielectric constant approaches the value of the dielectric
Table1. Design Parameters of the rectangular microstrip patch constant of the substrate as shown in the design calculation. By
Antenna. substituting the values of h, W, and ∈𝑟 , the value of the
effective dielectric constant obtained is ∈𝑒𝑓𝑓 =4.10.
Parameters Values[mm]

H 1.60 The effective length 𝐿𝑒𝑓𝑓 is calculated to be :

L0 28.00 𝐶
𝐿𝑒𝑓𝑓 = , (3)
2𝐹 ∈𝑒𝑓𝑓
W0 37.26
L1 17.45 By substituting the values of C and ∈𝑒𝑓𝑓 above, the
effective length 𝐿𝑒𝑓𝑓 =30.86mm.
RT
W1 1.10

L2 15.0 The difference in length ∆L, which is a function of the

W2 2.98 effective dielectric constant and the ratio of width to height is
IJE

∈𝑒𝑓𝑓 4.10 given as;

∆L ∈𝑒+0.3 𝑤 ℎ +0.264)
0.738 ∆L =0.412h (4)
∈𝑒−0.258 𝑤 ℎ +0.8
𝐿𝑒𝑓𝑓 30.86

Hence, Substitutes all the values to this equation, the

3. ANALYSIS AND DESIGN EQUATIONS
difference in length ∆L,= 0.738mm.
The actual length of the patch which is given as , 𝐿𝑒𝑓𝑓 =
These equations are basically meant for predicting the resonant
L+2∆L.
frequency, width, Patch thickness, and dielectric constant. The
L = 31.14mm.
width of the rectangular microstrip patch antenna is given as;

𝐶
W= ∈𝑟+1
, (1)
2𝐹
2

Where, C is the speed of light, F is the resonant frequency,

∈𝑟 is Relative dielectric constant of the substrate. By
substituting the values of F=2.4GHz, C= 3×108 m/s, Hence, the
Width W= 37.26mm.The proposed antenna consists of the
patch, the substrate, ground plane and microstrip line for
impedance matching. The bottom layer is the ground plane that
Figure 2. Proposed rectangular micro strip patch Antenna using HFSS
covers the rectangular shape substrate with a side of 31.14mm×
Software.
37.26mm. The middle layer constitutes the substrate which is
made up of FR4-Epoxy dielectric substrate with a relative

IJERTV3IS081043 www.ijert.org 1240

(This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.)
 International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 3 Issue 8, August - 2014

practically it should be less than 2 but greater than 1 for good

operation of the antenna. This antenna has been able to
achieved the desired value of the VSWR of 1.2. Simulated
results of 3D, EH plane pattern are shown in figure5.The
proposed antenna can cover WLAN applications.

Figure 3. Proposed rectangular microstrip Patch Antenna Showing perfect E1-

Plane.

Figure 6. The return Loss

Figure 4. Proposed rectangular microstrip Patch Antenna Showing perfect E2-
RT
Plane.
IJE

Figure 5. Rectangular micro strip patch antenna design enclosed inside

radiation Air-Box.
Figure 7. The VSWR of studied antenna.

4. SIMULATED RESULT OF THE ANTENNA

When the designed antenna is simulated by using HFSS
the return loss and the VSWR are shown below. From the
results obtained, we could observed that the designed antenna
is having a band frequency operation of 2.4GHz with
-29.69dB return loss. The voltage VSWR standing wave ratio
is 1.2. This indicates the impedance matching between the field
and the load and ,the value should be equal to 1 in an ideal
situation but not realizable practically. In other words,
The figure 8,9 shows the simulated E- and H- field
radiation patterns of the proposed antenna at a frequency of
2.4GHz. Radiation pattern refers to the direction of the
electromagnetic waves radiates away from the antenna. It is a
graphical representation of radiation properties of the
rectangular micristrip patch antenna as the function of space
co-ordinate. From the simulated analysis of the solution set up
of HFSS, the solution frequency was set to 2.45GHz for
maximum number of 20 adaptive solutions with maximum

IJERTV3IS081043 www.ijert.org 1241

(This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.)

delta S of 0.02 .In addition there are two types of fields namely,
far and near field but, in this antenna design we only focusing
on the far fields. By setting the EH Plane, the far field radiation
sphere setup values of Phi start from 0 and stop at 90, with step
size of 90.Similarly, the values of theta start from -180 and stop
at 180 with a step size of 1. The values of phi and theta are
good from the simulation results as shown in the radiation
pattern 1 below. In actual fact, a microstrip patch antenna
radiates normally to its patch surface. The radiation patterns of
the antenna is omnidirectional and with this, this antenna can
be use for WLAN.
RT
Figure8. Radiation Pattern
IJE
Figure 9. 3D-Gain Total
IJERTV3IS081043 www.ijert.org
(This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.)
International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology (IJERT)
ISSN: 2278-0181
Vol. 3 Issue 8, August - 2014
5. CONCLUSION
The antenna is having return loss of-29.6925 dB at
2.4GHz .This designed antenna is simulated on HFSS software.
For this antenna, a sufficient band-width was achieved by
utilizing microstrip line technique, the desired frequency of
2.4GHz is achieved, likewise the VSWR value of 1.2 is
achieveable. The designed microstrip antenna is optimized to
cover WLAN . The proposed antenna is very compact, very
easy to fabricate, and is fed by a 50Ω microstrip line which
makes it very attractive for current and future WLAN
applications.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We would like to extend our gratitude and sincere thanks
to the authority of Tianjin University of Technology and
Education for providing us with best facilities in the
Department of Electronics Engineering, to design the proposed
antenna in our school laboratory. We sincerely thank our
supervisor Prof.Hong -Xing Zhen for his exemplary guidance
and encouragement during our research.
REFERENCES
[1] Constantine A, Balanis, 'Antenna Theory-Analysis and Design', Second
Edition, John Wiley and Sons,Inc.,1997.
[2] J.R. James, P.S. Hall. Handbook of microstrip antennas, I.E.E.
Electromagnetic Waves Series 28- Peter Pereginus LTD, 1989.
[3] R.J. Mailloux, J.F. Mcllvenna and N.P. Kemweis-Microstrip Array
Technology IEEE Transactions on Antennas and
Propagation,Vol.29,No.1,January 1981 .
[4] H. Pues, A. Van de capelle, Accurate transmission line model for the
rectangular microstrip antenna, IEEE Microwave, Antenna and
Propagation Proceedings, Vol.131,Pt.December 1984.
[5] Prof.P.R.Chadha, Amit kumar, Rectangular Microstrip Patch Antenna
Design for WLAN Application using Probe Feed IJETAE, Volume 2,
Issue 12, December 2012.
[6] Ansoft Corporation, HFSS User's Guide, version 10 &12,Ansoft
Corporation,Pittsburgh,CA,20
1242